Hello and welcome to TravelHealthy.
I’m Petrina, a Namibian mother of three, longtime traveller and the creator of TravelHealthy. I live in Walvis Bay on Namibia’s beautiful central coast, where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean.
TravelHealthy is a locally informed guide to Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and the remarkable destinations surrounding Namibia’s central coast. Through local perspective, careful research and a genuine love for this coastline, I create practical travel guides, coastal stories and responsible travel advice to help you explore the region with confidence and curiosity.
How TravelHealthy Began
TravelHealthy began with a journey for which I was completely unprepared.
In December 2016, when I was seven months pregnant, I travelled to Cape Town. I had already been travelling for approximately 13 years, but I had never travelled while heavily pregnant.
I did not have the right clothes, comfortable shoes or a realistic plan for how my body might feel during the trip. Cape Town was filled with beautiful places and events that I did not want to miss, so I continued with my plans—but the experience was much harder than it needed to be.
That journey taught me an important lesson: good travel is not only about choosing a beautiful destination. It is also about understanding where you are going, preparing for the conditions and recognising what you may need to feel safe, comfortable and confident.
I created TravelHealthy because I wanted to share the kind of practical information I wished I had received before that trip.
From Travel Wellness to Namibia’s Central Coast
TravelHealthy originally focused primarily on travel wellness, motherhood and preparing for trips as a woman and parent.
As the website grew, I realised that its most meaningful direction was much closer to home.
I live on one of the most extraordinary coastlines in the world—a place where enormous desert dunes rise beside the Atlantic Ocean, coastal fog supports life in an extremely dry landscape and wetlands attract flamingos, pelicans and other remarkable wildlife.
Walvis Bay and Swakopmund are often introduced through short lists of tourist attractions. However, there is so much more to understand about these towns and the wider central coast.
Visitors deserve to know why the ocean is so cold, why fog is such an important part of the ecosystem, how the Walvis Bay Lagoon supports birdlife, what distinguishes Walvis Bay from Swakopmund and how to prepare for conditions that can change greatly during a single day.
This is why TravelHealthy is becoming the digital home of Namibia’s central coast: a practical, locally rooted and story-rich guide created from the coast itself.
What You Will Find on TravelHealthy
TravelHealthy helps you discover, understand, prepare for and responsibly experience Namibia’s central coast.
Here you will find:
- Practical guides to Walvis Bay and Swakopmund
- Coastal itineraries and trip-planning advice
- Weather, fog, clothing and packing guidance
- Wildlife and nature explanations
- Information about the lagoon, dunes, ocean and desert ecosystems
- Guides to marine cruises, kayaking, 4×4 excursions and other experiences
- Family-friendly travel information
- Coastal history, culture and community stories
- Responsible travel and wildlife-viewing guidance
- Helpful comparisons for choosing activities and tours
I want TravelHealthy to answer more than, “What can I do here?”
I also want it to help you understand what you are seeing, why it exists, why it matters and how you can experience it respectfully.
A Practical and Caring Approach to Travel
Although TravelHealthy now focuses on Namibia’s central coast, the lesson behind its creation remains at the heart of the website.
My pregnancy journey taught me that preparation matters. That same caring and practical approach now guides the information I share about coastal Namibia.
A traveller who understands the weather can pack more comfortably. A family that knows what an activity involves can choose an experience suitable for everyone. A visitor who understands the importance of the lagoon, dunes and wildlife is better prepared to enjoy and protect them.
To me, travelling healthy means more than physical wellness. It means travelling with knowledge, confidence, curiosity and respect.
Created From Namibia’s Central Coast
Living in Walvis Bay gives me a close connection to the places TravelHealthy covers. I spend much of my free time learning about and exploring Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and the surrounding coastline.
I combine this local perspective with careful research to create useful and trustworthy guides. When information can change—such as prices, opening hours, permits, road conditions or tour availability—I encourage travellers to confirm the latest details with the relevant official authority or service provider.
My goal is not simply to promote places or activities. It is to help you make informed decisions and appreciate the natural, historical and cultural stories that shape this coastline.
Travel Kindly
Namibia’s central coast may look vast and resilient, but many of its environments are sensitive.
Wetlands, dunes, lichen fields, beaches and wildlife habitats can be disturbed by careless driving, littering, approaching animals too closely or leaving designated routes.
TravelHealthy encourages every visitor to enjoy the coast responsibly, respect local communities, follow park and conservation rules and leave each place as beautiful as they found it.
The best journeys should create wonderful memories without damaging the places that made those memories possible.
Welcome to TravelHealthy
Whether you are planning your first visit to Walvis Bay, deciding what to do in Swakopmund, preparing for a Sandwich Harbour excursion or simply curious about life where the desert meets the Atlantic, I hope TravelHealthy helps you feel informed and inspired.
Thank you for visiting and becoming part of this journey.
Welcome to Namibia’s remarkable central coast.
Explore where the desert meets the Atlantic.
